Microsoft’s Xbox Division Head Phil Spencer promised Xbox One backwards compatibility news this week, but since it’s already Thursday, he took to Twitter to reassure the fans. He mentioned that everything is proceeding smoothly, and talked about a whole lot more in one of his usual Twitter sprees.
@MWorldII I know, I seem to be bad at predicting news,sorry. Making good progress on BC, no issues. Just working through rights.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@CorpRoberts I talked to team, they aren’t ready to talk yet. Sorry I set expectation so I’ll want until I know they have their news ready.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
The team’s focus is currently to have the bulk of Xbox 360 games ready for the launch of the feature.
@Stevo_safc @CorpRoberts Didn’t say that, I just know people want more. Bulk of games will be at public launch, that’s the teams focus.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Spencer also mentioned that Microsoft wants to make it easy to buy backwards compatible titles from any device that features with Xbox Live.
@FenixSupremo We’ll want to make it easy to buy 360 BC games from any XBL device, Win10, Xbox One, 360, http://t.co/LdLn0PSrAD etc.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Adding achievement support support would be “tough,” as it requires additional work for each game. Yet, it’s possible. Unfortunately using code from the existing disk for the purpose is technically challenging.
@ZootPlays @The_CrapGamer It would be tough as achievements are instrumented into the game.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@Crypt0ll7 @ZootPlays @The_CrapGamer We kind of did this with Rare Replay as well. It just requires work per game for someone to instrument.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@Crypt0ll7 @ZootPlays @The_CrapGamer We find with some BC games the studio and code are kind of gone so not always someone to do the work.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@Crypt0ll7 @ZootPlays @The_CrapGamer That’s technically possible but pretty challenging for achievements.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Removing region locking is also difficult, but Spencer mentioned that the team will look into it.
@SirMaximusTR This one is tough as some of the region locking for some games are based on licensing rights but we’ll look.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Interestingly, he also commented positively on the idea of giving Windows and Windows Phone games with the Games with Gold promotion.
@MD1st @johnny187boy This is a good idea.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@DetroitsReaper This is a good idea.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Microsoft wants to improve the synergy of all of its platforms with Xbox, even if they’re currently focusing on Windows 10.
@MD1st Thanks for that. We want all the MS platforms to work better for Xbox gamers, focused on Win10 PCs first but we’ll expand.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
That said, they want users to be able to move between platforms, but not to fall to the least common denominator.
@Dipslon Understand the push. We want people to be able to move between devices but also can’t fall to least common denominator.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Spencer also teased an announcement coming soon for the launch plans of Halo 5: Guardians.
@iamironwolf We’ll talk launch plans soon. Halo5 launch should be an entertainment event. Good for industry when major launches make news..
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
While a precise date on when preview users will be able to test the new Xbox One UI is still in the making, it’s already running internally. We’re getting closer, and the team is doing a good job with it.
@Jimk183 Still landing our date. We are running it on our machines now just to preview for the preview so getting closer.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@valourbaby Team is doing good work. Easier to design UI after you understand what gamers are doing with Xbox from real world use, helpful.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Spencer also commented on Cliff Bleszinski’s new IP LawBreakers, and mentioned that he’s always welcome on Xbox.
Last time @therealcliffyb launched a new gaming franchise that one seem to turn out ok. Congrats to you and the team. #LawBreakers.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@SambaXVI @therealcliffyb is always welcome on Xbox.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Bleszinski responded shortly after:
@XboxP3 Thanks Phil! Are you professionally flirting with me again? ::blushes::
— Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) August 27, 2015
@therealcliffyb Only on DM…
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@XboxP3 we're hands on at the offsite and you're always welcome to come get fragged by yours truly sir
— Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) August 27, 2015
A Halo-themed Elite controller would have been cool, but timings simply did not match.
@av_xz We don’t have that right now, timing just didn’t line up. Sorry, would have been cool.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
If, like me, you’d like to play a new Microsoft Flight Simulator, there are bad news, much to my chagrin. I loved that franchise so much. Funnily, I used to run a website dedicated to modding Japanese airlines, airports and scenarios into the games. Good times…
@sfwarriorsfan We aren’t currently working on FS, sorry. Just not enough time for all the games we’d like to be building.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Spencer also mentioned that a talk on cloud compute could be a good idea for GDC.
@PNF4LYFE I like keeping the discussion about games using the tech. CD3 demo was the best proof point to date. Could be a good GDC talk.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
According to Spencer, a new Mechassault with cloud-powered destruction would be cool,but it’s not in development now.
@Crypt0ll7 I saw the screenshot idea that was posted. It’s a cool idea. Not in development right now.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Different teams are using the cloud in different ways:
@PNF4LYFE Different teams using in different ways. Halo 5, Forza etc. It’s tech we’ll keep investing in if gamers like the features.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
He then denied the rumor about the Xbox Micro (who believed that one, really?):
@av_xz Not real.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
RARE is currently focused on Sea of Thieves, despite the speculation on a new Battletoads game.
@ATOMICAUST I know there has been speculation on this, right now Rare is focused on Sea of Thieves.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@raywand I’ve always loved the IP. Great to get it in Rare Replay and KI. Full game would require the right team with time.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
About Sea of Thieves, Microsoft plans to be quiet for a while, and give the team to make more progress on the game, before talking about it again.
@pedrohasser22 We’ll likely be quiet for awhile giving @RareLtd time to make more progress on the game.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
He also promised to share more on ReCore.
@SahandTajdini We promise we’ll share more. Announce of the game was important and we want people to get more details.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
Spencer doesn’t yet know how widespread mods will become on Xbox One, yet he feels that user generated content is important.
@JustinRyanBear Honestly don’t know yet. Obviously Minecraft is huge on MODs and we’ll learn a lot working with Bethesda on Fallout.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
@JustinRyanBear Yea, I agree. UGC in general is important with MODs being an extreme example.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 27, 2015
